I don't understand why critics are hating Your Highness so much. "Eastbound & Down", "Footfist Way," "Pineapple Express", etc. all got good reviews, as far as I understand, and this film is like all of those, except much funnier in some cases! Honestly, the only reason I was worried about seeing Your Highness was b/c I had DISLIKED Pineapple Express and Observe and Report so much. This film is far better and certain David Gordon Green's best comedy to date. Pineapple Express was one long joke about being stoned. The main character in Observe and Report seemed to have been written for McBride but played by the overrated Seth Rogen. I mean if you like Kenny Powers or Fred Simmons, I don't understand why you would dislike McBride's Thadeous. He is just as funny as any character McBride has ever played. He's got the same party mentality as Kenny, the same overblown pride fullness as Fred, just all done up with a British accent. Yet, somehow critics are attacking McBride for his portrayal! People say the opening gag fell flat on its face and that the movie just got worse from there. Honestly, I was rolling during the opening scene. It was completely absurd, reminding me of something out of Monty Python. And from there on I laughed my way until the credits. Yes, there's a lot of potty mouth humor, drug references, etc. But that is McBride's brand of humor. Everyone whose a fan knew that going in. I don't understand why people are acting like that's such a shocker when they've seen all his other work. To me this just really isn't a step down from Eastbound or Footfist, and is certainly a step UP for Green (at least regarding comedies), who is a fine director and who I am not intending to criticize. If you like everything else these guys have done, go see it. Funniest movie you'll see all year. 9/10.
Reviews
5 Reviews
The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory
(1987 TV Movie)
Good "Alamo" film...not great "film" film
25 December 2010
First off, I must confess that I am an Alamo junky. So my review might be a bit skewed. I've seen most films dealing with the Alamo or the Texas revolution (The Alamo (1960), The Alamo (2004), The Last Command, Gone to Texas, Heroes of the Alamo (930 B.C.), Davy Crockett at the Alamo, Texas, etc.) I just watched this one all the way through today for the first time since I was about ten.
I think this adaptation, despite it's flaws, probably ranks in the top three Alamo films. Strictly from a film perspective, it certainly has problems. The lack of budget makes for a handful of extras playing both armies. The Mexican army, which is suppose to number in the thousands, looks to consist of little more than ten soldiers the majority of the time. The battle scenes are laughable for the most part. Most of the footage, as has been noted many times, is lifted from the Last Command. The rest of the scenes feature rubber bayonets and men appearing to wrestle, rather than fight for their lives, in the background.
That said, I think with some money behind it, this could have been a great film. While every review I have read seems to praise the actor who played Santa Anna, Raul Julia I believe was his name, I find his constant yelling to be a bit over the top. I actually thought Brian Keith was a wonderful Davy Crockett. His down home yarns and backwoods twang comes across as entirely genuine. Also, note his expression as he swings his hunting knife just before his death. It is such a convincing portrayal of a last stand by a man. It is a pity that he is about thirty years to old to play Crockett. My hat goes off to him nonetheless. The same can be said for James Arness. His massive build and piercing eyes gives him that sort of John Wayne screen presence, to a far lesser degree of course. Again, a bit too old for the role. Alec Baldwin actually makes for a very convincing Travis. He is much closer in age and does a brilliant job. Highlights would be his last speech to the men as well as his conversation with James Bonham before hand.
I also thought the screenplay was very good. Minus some of the exchange between Daniel Cloud and his Mexican love interest. Although, it is more the acting and less the writing that hurts those scenes. The script moves the story along at a steady pace and is concerned more with telling the story and less with giving a history lesson, a flaw that haunts many Alamo films and period pieces in general.
Overall, I think this is a good "Alamo" film. It is probably not a good "film" film. That is to say unless you like the Alamo, you may not enjoy this movie. As made for t.v. movies go, especially in the eighties, it is not that bad. You have two great icons in Keith and Arness playing lead roles, as well as the upstart Alec Baldwin. Not a bad cast at all for a low budget film. Burt Kennedy does a good job of directing considered what he is given. As an "Alamo" film, I would probably rate this as a 7 or 8 out of 10. But as a "film" film goes it gets about a 5 out of 10. With a bigger budget and a younger Brian Keith and James Arness, this could have been a great film. It might have won Oscars in the Golden Age of Hollywood!
I think this adaptation, despite it's flaws, probably ranks in the top three Alamo films. Strictly from a film perspective, it certainly has problems. The lack of budget makes for a handful of extras playing both armies. The Mexican army, which is suppose to number in the thousands, looks to consist of little more than ten soldiers the majority of the time. The battle scenes are laughable for the most part. Most of the footage, as has been noted many times, is lifted from the Last Command. The rest of the scenes feature rubber bayonets and men appearing to wrestle, rather than fight for their lives, in the background.
That said, I think with some money behind it, this could have been a great film. While every review I have read seems to praise the actor who played Santa Anna, Raul Julia I believe was his name, I find his constant yelling to be a bit over the top. I actually thought Brian Keith was a wonderful Davy Crockett. His down home yarns and backwoods twang comes across as entirely genuine. Also, note his expression as he swings his hunting knife just before his death. It is such a convincing portrayal of a last stand by a man. It is a pity that he is about thirty years to old to play Crockett. My hat goes off to him nonetheless. The same can be said for James Arness. His massive build and piercing eyes gives him that sort of John Wayne screen presence, to a far lesser degree of course. Again, a bit too old for the role. Alec Baldwin actually makes for a very convincing Travis. He is much closer in age and does a brilliant job. Highlights would be his last speech to the men as well as his conversation with James Bonham before hand.
I also thought the screenplay was very good. Minus some of the exchange between Daniel Cloud and his Mexican love interest. Although, it is more the acting and less the writing that hurts those scenes. The script moves the story along at a steady pace and is concerned more with telling the story and less with giving a history lesson, a flaw that haunts many Alamo films and period pieces in general.
Overall, I think this is a good "Alamo" film. It is probably not a good "film" film. That is to say unless you like the Alamo, you may not enjoy this movie. As made for t.v. movies go, especially in the eighties, it is not that bad. You have two great icons in Keith and Arness playing lead roles, as well as the upstart Alec Baldwin. Not a bad cast at all for a low budget film. Burt Kennedy does a good job of directing considered what he is given. As an "Alamo" film, I would probably rate this as a 7 or 8 out of 10. But as a "film" film goes it gets about a 5 out of 10. With a bigger budget and a younger Brian Keith and James Arness, this could have been a great film. It might have won Oscars in the Golden Age of Hollywood!
The Shootist
(1976)
One of Duke's best
3 June 2006
Here we see yet another one of the many films for which Hollywood's greatest actor should have won an Academy Award. True, John Wayne is not the greatest as far as his ability to act goes. However his legacy will never even be approached by any actors of today or of years past. Not to say the Duke couldn't act. This film surely proves it. Here we see him playing a somber dying man whose days are number. Gunslingers are a dying breed as this film opens in the 1900's. Men like John Bernard Books (John Wayne) are a rarity in this new century. Realizing he has cancer, Books tries to avoid any trouble and live out his final days in peace. However as the pain worsens and his options narrow, Books straps on his pistols and goes out for one last gun fight. The film is wonderful directed by Don Siegel and featuring a great cast including James Stewart, Richard Boone, and a young Ron Howard among others. In the end this film proves not only to be a great western but a great motion picture. The moral of the story and the underlying themes as well as Duke giving one of his best performances makes this a must see for anybody whether they love westerns, dramas, comedies, whatever. If it doesn't go on your top ten list I feel sorry for you. Ultimately it was a wonderful way for the Duke to ride off the screen, the same he rode on: an American Icon.
Van Halen Live: Right Here, Right Now
(1993 Video)
Van Halen's Best DVD
2 June 2006
Definitely the best Van Halen DVD. Video Hits was good (not enough David Lee Roth), Live Without A Net was bearable (sound wasn't great. kind of a softer side of Van Halen). Live Right Here, Right Now is the best. After two albums (OU812 and 5150) Van Halen finally returned to their metal sound. True, it would never be the same with Diamond Dave out of the picture. This has a lot of songs from For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge and some old hits like When It's Love and Jump. It's not the best concert footage I've ever seen or anything, but as far as Van Halen DVDs go it gets a ten. The truth is they haven't put out that much and I'm sure most of us are sitting at home hoping that some old footage featuring David Lee Roth will get thrown on a DVD. No offense Sammy. It's a pity metal's greatest group never put out a concert video with their best singer.
The Alamo
(2004)
Perfection
2 January 2006
Other than some editing errors and few cheesy lines, this film is one of the best dramatic/war films I've seen. Director John Lee Hancock did a magnificent job of making a historically accurate film without making it boring. It tells the story of the 13 day siege and fall of the Alamo that helped lead to Texas Independence. But it's not the battles or the killings that make this such a great war film, it's the character study. Because deep down that's what this film is, a study of the men who fought for Texas independence. We see deep into their thoughts and feelings as with each day they come to the realization that they could die at any moment. By the end of the film you don't want to see anyone die, from the big name actors, to the extra being butchered in the background. Never has there been such a portrayal of this great battle, nor has there been such a gut wrenching scene as when Billy Bob Thornton (plays David Crockett) stands atop the walls of the Alamo and plays along with the Mexican marching band bringing a moment of peace as both sides realize that they are all just ordinary men caught in a horrible situation. This is the best film ever made, hands down. 10 out of 10.
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